Compliance auditing

In July 2006, the Department implemented a Compliance Auditing Plan. All projects that have been determined as not a controlled action - particular manner* (NCA-PM) and controlled actions (CA) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) and permits granted under the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 are auditable under the plan.

Compliance audits help to ensure projects with the potential to impact on matters of national environmental significance are implemented as planned. The audits will also help the Australian Government to understand how well approval conditions are being understood and applied, and contribute to improving the effectiveness of the Department's operations.

The Department’s annual Compliance Monitoring Plans describe the compliance monitoring activities that are proposed for each financial year. The Compliance Auditing Plan is a component of the annual Compliance Monitoring Plans.

Compliance Auditing Plan

The Compliance Auditing Plan focuses on projects across all sectors including mining and energy, government, transport, ports and marine, urban development, tourism and recreation. Projects can be chosen for audit based on either a random selection process or a risk-focused strategic selection process.